SAS Field Trip: Reichmuth Park, 03/13/2026
Northern House Wren were singing their little hearts out. © Daniel Lee Brown
Leader Eric Johnson reported: It started out slow and then picked up for the nine intrepid birders on a temperate March morning. We had a huge flyover of Snow Goose, and amidst the white there were five dark undersides indicating Greater White-fronted Goose. A declaration of "Everyone see that Ross's Goose?" was met with laughter. Wood Duck and Mallard were dawdling at the end of the trough, so we let them be. Sauntering up the single-track, we found the usual Reichmuth suspects: White-breasted Nuthatch, Nuttall's Woodpecker, Black Phoebe and the like. Northern House Wren were singing their little hearts out, and Ruby-crowned Kinglets chattered away gaily. We turned around at the park/wood interface, and back near the start we had the resident Fox Sparrow make its appearance, along with a surprise Lincoln's Sparrow. A total of 29 species pre-migration made this a very successful morning!
SAS Field Trip: Unusual Parts of the Cosumnes River, 03/14/2026
It was also great to see American Avocets breeding plumage. © Ray Rozema
Leader Rodd Kelsey reported: On our late winter visit to Cosumnes River Preserve on March 14th, we had a great group of 14 people, some who had never been to the Preserve before. It was a beautiful, warm (maybe too warm!) morning. While it was still too early to see spring migrants and summer breeding species, we had a good contingent of wintering birds and residents, all getting ready for migration and the breeding season, including seeing Yellow-rumped Warblers now deep in molt and a few already in full breeding plumage regalia. It was also great to see American Avocets breeding plumage, along with a young Bald Eagle wreaking havoc over wetlands along Desmond Rd in ways that made it look like it didn't really have a handle on this hunting waterfowl thing. We saw a total of 64 species across the River Walk and wetlands and from around Wood Duck Slough. The real highlight of the day was seeing the continuing Ruff - a lifer for many of us. All in all, a nice day.
SAS Field Trip: North Natomas Regional Park, 03/14/2026
Cattle Egrets amazingly outnumbered the Snowy Egrets. © Mary Forrestal
Leader Ben Graber reported: We had near-perfect weather, and a very large and enthusiastic group. Special thanks to Mary Forrestal and Jane Van Kessel for volunteering to serve as co-leaders and scope monitors. We started off with dazzling looks at some Western Bluebirds and some Red-winged Blackbirds proudly displaying their namesake wing patches. Other songbirds included Lincoln's Sparrow, American Pipit, and an unusually cooperative Savannah Sparrow. Meanwhile, a Cooper's Hawk surveyed nearby bird feeders for an easy lunch. The biggest highlight, of course, was the rookery at the pond. There were countless Black-crowned Night Herons and Cattle Egrets, which amazingly outnumbered the Snowy Egrets. The trip concluded with a confrontation between an American Crow and a Red-shouldered Hawk.
SAS Field Trip: Beginning Birder Walk, William Pond Park, 03/22/2026
Highlights included FOS (first of season) Western Kingbirds. © Daniel Lee Brown
Leader Larry Hickey reported: On a spectacular spring morning at William Pond 12 beginning birders joined us for a delightful morning of birding. We counted 46 species including a pair of Red-shouldered Hawks actively interacting with each other in the eucalyptus trees. Yellow-billed Magpies were active all morning, some clearly tending to and entering and exiting their large dome nests. We clearly saw and heard many of the expected species including European Starlings and Acorn Woodpeckers, and we encountered some of our wintering birds, like White-crowned and Golden-crowned Sparrows, but their numbers seemed to be smaller than last month indicating that many have already left for their nesting grounds. Many Tree Swallows were busy flying everywhere and Pied-billed Grebes appeared to be in breeding plumage. Great Blue Herons were seen, but surprisingly not on their nests in the rookery. Highlights included Wood Ducks in the river and FOS (first of season) Western Kingbirds.
SAS Field Trip: Hidden Falls Regional Park, 03/24/2026
We all saw two very accommodating Rufous-crowned Sparrows singing their lovely songs. © Daniel Lee Brown
Leader Peter Perrine reported: Eight of us enjoyed a beautiful if unseasonably warm morning at Hidden Falls Regional Park. Right off the bat, two Wild Turkeys ambled by and Lark Sparrows gave all of us good looks near the parking lot. Acorn Woodpeckers were actively setting up for the breeding season, and soon we all saw two very accommodating Rufous-crowned Sparrows singing their lovely songs within ten feet of the trail and posing for photos. Hutton’s Vireos sang off-and-on throughout the morning, and one gave us all great looks to compare with nearby Ruby-crowned Kinglets. Orange-crowned Warblers sang repeatedly all morning and eventually showed themselves to everyone. At Coon Creek, we searched for but did not find the recently reported American Dipper and possible nesting Golden Eagles, but acrobatic displays by pairs of Northern Rough-winged Swallows was great entertainment. A flyover Sharp-shinned Hawk was well seen by all, providing excellent discussion of the subtle differences between it and Cooper’s Hawks. Later, a calling Cooper’s Hawk remained hidden, but two patient members of the group were rewarded to finally see it leaving its nest. All-in-all, a marvelous day birding, with a total of 33 species accounted for.
SAS Field Trip: Sailor Bar, 03/28/2026
As we moved along, a Green Heron flew behind us. © Larry Hickey
Leader Michael Curtis reported: Fourteen showed up for a cloudless, cool spring morning at Sailor Bar. We made our way to the pond, where we were greeted by the sounds of Red-winged Blackbirds, Bewick's Wrens, and an Oak Titmouse. There, we observed a Great Blue Heron and the Red-winged Blackbirds. As we moved along, a Green Heron flew behind us. We continued down the main trail and spotted a Northern Mockingbird, Red-tailed Hawk, and, of course, Acorn Woodpeckers, to name a few. Eventually, on the walk, some of us were able to see the Hooded Oriole, making two appearances on the trail before going into a Palm. As the walk continued, we noticed Yellow-rumped Warblers and Lesser Goldfinches moving about, and what appeared to be an agitated state. We waited patiently and eventually saw two Cooper’s Hawks in the area, with one of them landing in the Oak tree we had been watching. We spent the last third of the trip following the river, where we saw Buffleheads, Common Goldeneyes, Spotted Sandpipers, and a Turkey Vulture enjoying a meal. Before heading back to the vehicles, we stopped by the Rookery, where the Great Blue Herons stay. We counted 51 species on the day, with some of our Spring and Summer residents returning. It was a wonderful morning with many great people.
SAS Field Trip: Bucks Creek, 03/29/2026
Best bird was a White-throated Sparrow seen well. © Timothy Jackson
Leader Maureen Geiger reported: Bucks Creek did not disappoint on this warm morning hike. With Tim Jackson taking care of eBird plus photography, 9 of us had a great morning with signs of spring everywhere. Best bird was a White-throated Sparrow seen well. We have found them on this trail in the past but always in the dead of winter. Close looks at a female Hooded Merganser were also satisfying. The ponds which once supported ducks, grebes, and herons, are now so vegetation choked that there is very little open water, so those numbers are way down - although it must be said that it was turtle heaven today! Here is the link to the eBird checklist with photos: https://ebird.org/checklist/S314465727.
Young Birders Club Field Trip: Bobelaine Audubon Sanctuary, 04/04/2026
High in another valley oak, we saw a brilliant orange male Bullock’s Oriole giving a rattle call! © Ray Rozema
Leader Mackenzie Hollender reported: One young birder and one parent met my father and I at Bobelaine Audubon Sanctuary. In the parking lot, we noticed Western Bluebird, a Western Kingbird nesting in the telephone pole, and an Orange-crowned Warbler (OCWA). We headed down to the center trail, spotting another OCWA, and hearing many Yellow-rumped Warblers (YRWA) at the beginning of the trail. We heard and saw Spotted Towhee, Bewick’s Wren, and a Hutton’s Vireo on the center trail. Veering right to the otter trail, we made our way along a tall tangle of brambles where we noticed a third OCWA. While stopped at the warbler, we heard a buzzing noise characteristic of a Rufous Hummingbird. Just then, we saw it sipping from white flowers in the bramble! What a surprise! After the hummingbird zoomed away, we continued down the trail, scaring a flock of White-crowned Sparrows into low growing vegetation. Through a crack in the vegetation, we saw that one of the sparrows had a white throat and a supercilium that was white with yellow just above the eye. A White-throated Sparrow! It dashed away before we could get any more good looks. We took the north trail toward the feather river, noticing Northern House Wrens bringing sticks into nest boxes, Tree Swallows perching in high cottonwood branches, and hearing distant Wrentits. We arrived out on the river and watched a Western Grebe vigorously hunt in the river. A Great Blue Heron hunted stoically on the shore, and two Common Ravens sat on riverside snags. Turning back into the woods, we began to look through the tens of YRWA for a Black-throated Gray Warbler that had been seen earlier in the morning. We eventually found it moving through a tangle of branches in a valley oak. High in another valley oak, we saw a brilliant orange male Bullock’s Oriole giving a rattle call! We walked up to an outlet in the woods along the lake and watched a pair of Wood Ducks take flight. Cooper’s and Red-tailed Hawk, Wild Turkey, Downy Woodpecker, and Yellow-billed Magpie were also notable finds for the trip. We headed out of the woods thrilled with the variety of birds we got to see and hear! We ended the trip with seven lifers for the attendees.
SAS Field Trip: William Pond Park, 04/04/2026
Leader Mark Martucci reported: A large group of twenty people detected 68 species of birds on a very pleasant early spring morning along the American River Parkway. Highlights included Canvasback, Wilson's Snipe, Green Heron, White-tailed Kite, Bald Eagle, Swainson's Hawk, Western Kingbird, Phainopepla and Bullock's Oriole.
Birding William Pond with Mark Martucci © Rich Howard
SAS Field Trip: Spring Migration Hotspot, 04/05/2026
We came across our best early migrant in the willows along the river's edge, a Gray Flycatcher. © Daniel Lee Brown
Leader Kevin Thomas reported: Eight participants showed up this Easter morning for a bird walk at Bushy Lake to look for early migrants. The morning started off with numerous House Finches singing away near the parking lot. As we made our way down to the river, we were treated to a pair of White-tailed Kite and American Kestrel hanging out together. We continued down the dirt path through the blackberry bushes and caught glimpses of our wintering sparrows before they leave to breed; Fox Sparrow was a highlight along with a Hermit Thrush. Spring was in the air as Tree Swallows jockeyed for nest cavities with Acorn Woodpeckers and European Starlings. The Yellow-rumped Warblers were singing away preparing for their movement to their breeding grounds. We came across our best early migrant in the willows along the river's edge, a Gray Flycatcher put on a show for us, splaying for food and showing its characteristic tail drop habit. It was a great spring morning with wonderful friends.
SAS Field Trip: Phoenix Park & Middleridge Trail, 04/11/2026
Trip Cancelled
SAS Field Trip: Pine Hill/Kanaka Valley, 04/12/2026
Trip Cancelled